[Date Prev][Date Next] [Chronological] [Thread] [Top]

(erielack) ELHS Eastern Region Spring Meeting Report

NOTE: This message had contained at least one image attachment.
To view or download the image(s), click on or cut and paste the
following URL into your web browser:


http://www.Railfan.net/lists/listthumb.cgi?erielack-04-11-05

JJL-cabooses-and-flat.jpg (image/jpeg, 1136x852 99008 bytes)
JJL-cabooses.jpg (image/jpeg, 1136x852 71309 bytes)
JJL-flats.jpg (image/jpeg, 1136x852 96772 bytes)
JJL-EL-flat.jpg (image/jpeg, 1136x852 84907 bytes)
JJL-early-100-ton-PS2.jpg (image/jpeg, 1136x852 85696 bytes)
JJL-preproduction-DLW-diner.jpg (image/jpeg, 1136x852 128914 bytes)
JJL-HH660.jpg (image/jpeg, 1136x852 71710 bytes)
DLW-railroad-gun-by-Jim-Dalberg.jpg (image/jpeg, 1136x852 77836 bytes)
DLW-flats-and-trailers-by-Rusty-Recordon.jpg (image/jpeg, 1136x852 59408 bytes)
DLW-cement-hopper-conversion-by-Jim-Harr.jpg (image/jpeg, 1136x852 58568 bytes)
Erie-models-by-Dave-Messer.jpg (image/jpeg, 1136x852 67825 bytes)
Erie-caboose-by-Vince-Lee.jpg (image/jpeg, 1136x852 79527 bytes)
Erie-28th-St-Freight-Station-by-Vince-Lee.jpg (image/jpeg, 1136x852 68228 bytes)

Yesterday was the ELHS Eastern Region Spring Meeting in Parsippany, NJ. Here's my brief report on the presentations and "things to see:"

The day started off with Jerry Dziedzic and his presentation, "Let's Rock!", an overview of the Portland cement industry in eastern Pennsylvania (and rail service by the L&NE and DL&W/EL), and then a chronology of the development of the cement covered hopper, focusing on the well-known ACF 1790 cu. ft. "drop-frame" covered hoppers, of which the DL&W had the largest fleet. Finally, he presented a relatively simple way to model these cars in HO scale by modifying an MDC PS-2 covered hopper. The entire presentation was extremely well-researched and eye-opening.

Next up was Rusty Recordon, who gave a very detailed history of the DL&W's series of piggyback flats and their associated trailers, expanding upon the series of articles he wrote for Railroad Model Craftsman. The level of interest during this presentation was high, and I think we all learned a bit more about Russell ramps, tie-downs, and ramp support brackets. The sheer variety in terms of trailers and variations of flats was impressive - I don't think many of us realized that there were so many differences!

Afterwards, this writer gave a follow-up presentation on the DL&W pigflats "A.M." ("after merger"), and how they were doomed to a short life in revenue service. Then a description of the major areas of MOW service that the cars went into followed.

After a break, Walter Appel showed some 8mm films of the EL in the 1960s and early 1970s, featuring first-generation Alco roadswitchers and the last days of the E8s on commuter trains. This was followed by vintage EL slides he took during the same eras, including some wonderful views taken from his employer's skyscraper in Newark of trains on the former DL&W. Many classic images, including locations that were not commonly photographed, and delivered with humor to boot.

The final presentation before the dinner break was Kevin Olsen with his well-researched and detailed history of the early years of the New York & Greenwood Lake Railway, and all of the intriguing political machinations that took place in its formative years as the Montclair Railway. Many people were surprised that such a relatively dry topic (how many people today really care about railroading in the 19th Century?) turned out to be one of cut-throat business maneuvering, with more twists and turns than a typical soap opera! This writer's surprise came when he learned that DL&W component Morris & Essex had an early hand in the Greenwood Lake. From Lackawanna to Erie!

After dinner, we reconvened for a slide presentation by Jim Dent. Jim covered the former Erie Delaware Division between Port Jervis and Binghamton, with primarily Conrail and Susquehanna trains (can you imagine that a lot of this is now history, too?), but interspersed with vintage EL images. Nice coverage of several uncommon yet scenic locations in this presentation!

Finally, Roger Cook gave a classic EL slide show from the 1960s/1970s, primarily focused on the Delaware Division (and even more finely-focused on the last years of F-unit operations, notably the pushers out of Susquehanna and Deposit over Gulf Summit). Within the presentation was a superb selection of Roger's fine night photography work of EL topics, including E- and F-units. A wonderful punctuation mark to a great day of presentations!

There was a model table set up (see the attached images and their filenames for descriptions) with some wonderful displays, including a retrofit kit for the Accurail USRA DL&W hopper to turn it into an early DL&W cement car, done by Jim Harr. A very unique and interesting model!

Joe & Janet Lofland (aka JJL Models) were showing a wide variety of their Erie/DL&W/EL-specific products, including final versions of the Alco HH660 model, as well as pre-production samples of the DL&W Budd Diner and the beginning of a master for an 100-ton PS-2 covered hopper (EL series 21300-21349, built 1966). The latter is a model that many modelers have been hoping for!


Once again, a BIG round of applause to Pete Hasler, who yet again single-handedly set up the event and ran it. I think his work in these efforts is seriously underappreciated, and he deserves a medal for all his hard work!

	- Paul

 <<JJL-cabooses-and-flat.JPG>>  <<JJL-cabooses.JPG>>  <<JJL-flats.JPG>>  <<JJL-EL-flat.JPG>>  <<JJL-early-100-ton-PS2.JPG>>  <<JJL-preproduction-DLW-diner.JPG>>  <<JJL-HH660.JPG>>  <<DLW-railroad-gun-by-Jim-Dalberg.JPG>>  <<DLW-flats-and-trailers-by-Rusty-Recordon.JPG>>  <<DLW-cement-hopper-conversion-by-Jim-Harr.JPG>>  <<Erie-models-by-Dave-Messer.JPG>>  <<Erie-caboose-by-Vince-Lee.JPG>>  <<Erie-28th-St-Freight-Station-by-Vince-Lee.JPG>> 

------------------------------